Israel: Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem

Jews. Arabs. Israel. Palestine. What should a Christian living in America think or do about this mess in the Middle East? The current state of Israel has existed since 1948 amidst a sea of enemies, surrounding on all sides by Muslims who are committed to their destruction. But what should we think? Whose side should we be on? Should we just stay out of the whole situation?

We could spend a long time on this, but I will keep to a couple points to consider:

Isaiah 40:1-2 "Comfort, O comfort My people," says your God. Speak kindly to her, that her warfare has ended, that her iniquity has been removed, that she has received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins." (NASB) -The thought here is that comfort will come for Israel, in the form of the Savior, Jesus Christ. And as members of His church here in this world, representing Him to the nations, our call is to reach out to a world in need with His comfort.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." (NASB) -As Christians we are the only ones in the world who can offer any true comfort beyond the temporal. Why should we direct this comfort toward Israel, specifically? Other than the implied command of Isaiah 40:1, I will close with 2 more verses:

Genesis 12:3 "And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you [Abram, Father of the nation of Israel] all the families of the earth will be blessed." (NASB)

Romans 15:26-27 "For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things." (NASB)

In closing, we have to remember that while Israel today is largely secular, they are still God's chosen people. God in his infinite grace has also chosen us (Christians) to follow Him; Gentiles share in the spiritual blessing once given to Israel through the saving death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We can pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and we can give materially to help them as well. Here is one ministry, Exodus Limited, that our church works with in Israel.